Psalm 110 Study Notes

110:1-7 This is a royal psalm with messianic implications that culminate in the person of Jesus Christ. As a psalm of messianic promise, the poem is the most frequently cited psalm in the NT (Ac 2:34-35; 1Co 15:25; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 7:17,21; 1Pt 3:22). Although the psalm seems to address the Davidic dynasty, the ideal is never realized except in the Messiah.

110:1 The Lord addresses the Davidic king as his divinely appointed representative. The right hand denotes a place of strength, honor, and privilege (45:9). The king as God’s co-regent derives his authority from God (see note at 80:17-18; cp. Heb 1:3). The expression make your enemies your footstool conveys the idea of being victorious and forcing submission (Jos 10:24).

110:2 To extend the scepter meant to establish a person’s authority and power over the land (45:6). Genesis 49:10 describes Judah as the Lord’s scepter, a metaphorical reference to divinely ordained regal authority.

110:3 This verse is often characterized as the most obscure in the entire book of Psalms. The first line is literally “Your people (will be) freewill offerings in the day of your strength.” Some interpreters emend in holy splendor (Hb behaderey-qodesh) to “on the holy mountains” (beharerey-qodesh), referring to Zion. From the womb of the dawn denotes the young men’s eagerness to do battle for the Lord as soon as the day breaks. The young men are descendants of the king, and thereby, of the Lord.

110:4 The reference to Melchizedek derives from Gn 14:17-24. The concept of a priestly kingship seems unusual, yet kings served as priests on special occasions or in exceptional circumstances. God promised an eternal dynasty to David (2Sm 7:14-17; see Ps 89:29). Jesus Christ, as a descendant of David and as the Son of God, fulfills the dual roles of king and priest forever (Heb 7:17,21).

110:5-6 The right hand denotes protection. The Lord will judge (Is 42:1-7) among the nations and destroy their wicked leaders (Ezk 32:5; 35:8).

110:7 Drinking from the brook by the road possibly relates to the rite of drinking from the Gihon Spring as part of an enthronement ceremony (1Kg 1:38), or to pausing to refresh oneself before continuing the pursuit of the vanquished foe (Jdg 8:4). On lift up his head, see note at 27:6.